Mike Gunnoe/Particular to the Journal-World
Kansas guard S'Mya Nichols makes a three-pointer in opposition to Houston Christian, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Lawrence.
Kansas bounced again from a non-conference loss to Texas A&M over the weekend with a wholesome 79-57 win over Houston Christian on Wednesday evening.
Kansas (4-4) expanded its offense as a result of the beginning lineup was lacking all-conference middle Taiyanna Jackson, who was out with an sickness. Taking part in with out Jackson allowed KU to play star freshman S'Myo Nichols, who scored a career-high 20 factors in 24 minutes.
“S'Mya has been pretty constant for essentially the most half via eight video games. He's enjoying at most likely the bottom stage we anticipated,” head coach Brandon Schneider stated. “I believe as a training workers we’ve to do what we will to get these 4 returning starters to step up their sport and play like we all know they're able to.”
The Jayhawks struggled out of the gate with their defensive presence and clearly missed Jackson on that facet of the ball. Kansas allowed comparatively lowly Houston Christian (4-6) to attain 23 factors within the first quarter. In the meantime, on the offensive finish, with out its main scorer this season, Kansas needed to regulate. Wyvette Mayberry and Ryan Cobbins led the workforce with 4 factors every after the primary quarter.
“The most important factor, particularly within the first quarter, was simply not having (Jackson) within the paint,” Schneider stated. “We weren't almost as disruptive as we wanted to be defensively. “Clearly our guys depend on her as a result of she's an vital a part of our workforce.
The Jayhawks improved their protection after their first quarter huddle. They held the Huskies to 6 factors via the primary six minutes of the second quarter as Kansas took a 36-29 lead due to the new capturing of Nichols and Holly Kersgieter, who each scored seven factors within the quarter. After forcing 5 straight missed photographs, the Jayhawks simply took a 44-33 lead into halftime earlier than the primary half started.
Total, although, the Huskies have been held to 29.4% capturing and 0-for-4 from deep within the second interval after Houston Christian shot 50% from past the arc within the first quarter.
Nichols and Kersgieter led Kansas with 11 and 9 factors, respectively. Kersgieter additionally recorded three blocks within the first half with Jackson out.
“At halftime we talked about attempting to emulate the second quarter. We gave up a unusual offensive rebound on the final possession … and a shot to the financial institution late,” Schneider stated. “So we actually needed to attempt to replicate the vitality and be extra disruptive. I assumed they have been a bit too comfy within the first quarter.”
After three possessions with nothing to point out for it and back-to-back Huskies heats to open the second half, Kansas bounced again and went on a 13-0 run to take its largest lead of the evening at 57-37, forcing two Houston Christian layups. closing dates. There have been two fast outs throughout that drive, forcing out Kersgieter and Skyler Gill.
“We simply took benefit of it and ran, and I believe that was the emphasis as a result of we haven't gained a lot the previous couple of video games,” Kersgieter stated of the Jayhawks' improved efficiency in transition.
Kansas prolonged its run to 19 straight factors. Six completely different gamers scored throughout the run, the Jayhawks compelled 4 turnovers and almost eight minutes elapsed. On the finish of the quarter they led 64:41.
The fourth quarter featured some experimental rotations from Schneider as he alternated pairings of starters and switched on and experimented with Zsófia Telegdy, Danai Papadopoulou and Paris Gaines within the publish. Freshman McKenzie Smith scored 5 factors within the second half after beforehand enjoying simply 19 minutes and scoring three factors in three video games earlier within the season.
That string of contributions was greater than sufficient for Kansas because it gained its third straight residence sport 79-57 over the visiting Huskies.
“We knew earlier than the sport that we didn't have Taiyanna, however I believe the adjustment within the second half simply reiterated that as a result of clearly we didn't carry out on the stage we anticipated of ourselves,” Kersgieter stated. “We weren't blissful at half-time so we didn't allow them to do the identical factor they did within the first half. So we modified our mindset and went on, we began once more within the second half.”
After getting off to a gradual begin however rebounding and defending themselves in a small lineup, the Jayhawks confirmed their resilience and broad offense differently than they did earlier this season when Jackson sat out a complete contest fairly than only a quarter or two resulting from points with foul as in earlier video games.
After the sport, Schneider revealed that Jackson's absence was resulting from sickness and he didn’t count on it to be a long-term difficulty. He stated she might return to coaching as quickly as Thursday.
Subsequent, Kansas will attempt to win its first true highway sport of the season in Sunday afternoon's sport in opposition to Wichita State.
Mike Gunnoe/Particular to the Journal-WorldKansas guard Zakiyah Franklin simply missed a steal on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in opposition to Houston Christian in Lawrence.
Mike Gunnoe/Particular to the Journal-WorldKansas guard Wyvette Mayberry reaches for a steal in opposition to Houston Christian Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Lawrence.
Mike Gunnoe/Particular to the Journal-WorldKansas guard Holly Kersgieter hits a 3-pointer in opposition to Houston Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Lawrence.
Mike Gunnoe/Particular to the Journal-WorldKansas ahead Zsófia Telegdy goes for a free ball Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in opposition to Houston Christian in Lawrence.
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111106Kansas wins with out Taiyanna Jackson, beats Houston Christian 79-57
